'Someone should have caught me by this stage' - McCarthy
Paul Fitzpatrick
Westmeath’s Robbie McCarthy’s quest for a 12th All-Ireland Senior Softball Singles title remains on track after he came through his semi-final in straight games on Saturday last.
McCarthy will take on Meath’s Gary McConnell in the decider this Saturday in Abbeylara, Co Longford (programme starts at 1pm). The defending champion has been unbeaten in singles play in the 60x30 code since 2019, when he lost the final to Eoin Kennedy.
McConnell has made no secret of his ambition to take down the Mullingar man but McCarthy was unruffled after his semi-final win.
“At the end of the day, I'm 38 now, let's be real, someone should have caught me by this stage. I should be well gone,” McCarthy said in his post-match interview.
McCarthy was pushed all the way in the first game by Brian Carroll in the first game, winning it 21-19, but moved through the gears in the second.
“Brian and I go way back so we know each other's games inside and out. He went on a nice run of kills there in the first game. Nothing but respect for him obviously. We're going round with each other since we were about 11 years of age. We're both after retiring I’d say three times at this stage. We're very tight,” McCarthy said.
The pair have actually played doubles together in the past and were regular training partners.
“I probably went for a few more shots in the second game, Brian gave me more chances, he probably died off a little bit. It is what it is, I'm through to another final, that's all I can say.”
Robbie stated that he would rather play the final at the National Handball Centre. However, he was full of praise for the facilities in Abbeylara, Co Longford.
“I'm kind of disappointed it's not back in Croke Park, I thought that should have been looked at from the start. Maybe it's an error, I don't know, it's hard to say but it's really disappointing that it's not going ahead in Croke Park.
“Obviously after the doubles going ahead there, you'd like to see the main event, the singles, on there. It feels a bit down-grading towards the singles but it is what it is. Abbeylara is a savage alley, Anna and all them run a tight ship, they're very nice people. Yeah, happy to go back.”
McCarthy won the Open Doubles at the World Championships in tandem with Joe McCann last November and reached the final of the Senior Doubles in the softball court recently alongside Colm Jordan so his form has been strong over the last eight months. The Mullingar clubman defeated Ned Reilly of Tipperary followed by Shane Dunne in the quarter-final and then Carroll at the penultimate stage.